Instrumentation
Full Orchestra (3.3.3.3/4.3.3.1/timp+3/hrp/cel/strings)
Duration
8 minutes
Year Composed
2022
“The Moon” opens with the rumbling low brass and woodwinds, setting the atmosphere of a dark and dangerously quiet night…
The A section juxtaposes the mysterious melody with the anxious and unsettling staccato notes of woodwinds and percussions, and contrasts stillness with movement. The B section was written with a clear visual image behind it: the English Horn solo represents the cold and lonely moon, which is surrounded by passing clouds—heard as the chromatic scales played by woodwinds with airy tone. In the background, harp, celesta, and vibraphone create a watery texture. This improvisatory and liquid-like music is composed with pitches from the A section melody.
The music recapitulates as the enigmatic melody expands in terms of contrapuntal complexity and instrumentation until it reaches a climax. After a sonic explosion that recalls the chordal tutti in The Sun, B section returns, yet this time the English horn is followed by a shadowy clarinet solo. The night is made even creepier by the presence of 2 moons, and my inspiration for such ending was the final scene from Star Wars Episode 4 where two suns were shown on the planet of Tatooine.
"…extremely effective and polished. There were no wasted gestures, lines or even notes—everything was extremely well considered…I was immersed from the very beginning into the work by its haunting atmosphere, effective use of ‘color’ instruments and effects…" — David Canfield, writer @ Fanfare Magazine